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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 1999

Ryan Releases Funds For Greater Rockford Airport Improvements

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan approved the release of more than $200,000 for improvements to runways at the Greater Rockford Airport to help accommodate large jets used by United Parcel Service at the company's Rockford sorting facility.

"These improvements will help keep Rockford competitive in the business world. Good transportation is a key to economic development and I am committed to making sure our air transit network is second to none," Ryan said. "The Greater Rockford Airport is becoming a major cargo facility and will become more important in the future as more high-value, time-sensitive items are moved by air."

The Governor approved the release of $201,832 in state airport "Series B Bond funds" to help pay for the Runway 7 project, which will extend the existing runway and parallel taxiway to 10,000 feet.

The allocation includes $183,822 for the reconstruction, lighting and general improvement of 5,000 feet of Runway 7/25. The total $3.7 million cost of this project will be split between the state, federal and local governments. The federal government is supplying 90 percent of the money for the reconstruction, with state and local sources splitting the remaining 10 percent.

Also released by Ryan was $18,010 to help with the extension of Runway 7. The state's commitment will supplement federal and local shares of this project, which totals $808,852. The federal government is providing 45 percent of the funding for this project and local sources will contribute 52.5 percent.